Coleman anchors Clarkson mens hoops win over SLU

POTSDAM - Junior John Coleman (Potsdam, NY) scored 27 points and classmate Charles McAllister (Olathe, KS) had nine assists and four steals as the Clarkson University mens basketball team cruised to a 73-48 Liberty League victory over NOrth Country rivals St. Lawrence University Tuesday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights improved to 14-9 overall and 8-6 in the Liberty League, moving into a tie for fourth in the conference standings. The Saints fell to 9-14 overall and 5-9 in league contests, and were officially eliminated from the playoff race. The 25-point margin of victory was the most since Clarkson defeated the Saints by that same figure during the 1999-2000 season, and the sweep of St. Lawrence was the first for the Golden Knights since the 1993-94 campaign.

St. Lawrence came out using a zone against the Golden Knights, but Clarkson was able to find holes in the defense with short passes in the interior for easy lay ups and long looks at 3-pointers. The two teams were tied at 10-10, but Clarkson went on a 11-4 run capped off by some lay ins by Christian Collette (Yalesville, CT). From that point, Marques Charlton (Deer Park, NY) got hot from the perimeter and buried three 3-pointers.

Coleman shot 5-8 in the first half for a game-high 11 points and Charlton chipped in nine points. Felix Abongo (Beacon, NY) was hot early and produced seven points. Kyle Kobis was the easy leader for St. Lawrence, as he made three 3-pointers for nine points.

In the second half, Clarkson picked up the first points of the half to lead by 14, and though the Saints narrowed that margin to 13 on a couple of occasions, it was as close as St. Lawrence would get. Clarkson would push its lead to more than 20 with 10 minutes remaining in the half and extended the advantage to as many as 30 points with 5:09 remaining, before the gap finally would settle at 25.

Coleman finished with 27, two points shy of his career-high, on 12-for-17 shooting. Charlton and Abongo each scored 14 points, with Charlton adding in five rebounds and Abongo contributing seven boards and five assists. McAllister didnt score until late in the second half, but certainly did plenty of damage by leading the team with nine assists and four steals, matching the figure of thefts by Coleman. Overall, Clarkson had 25 assists on 30 baskets and committed just 10 turnovers, a few of which came in the waning moments of the contest.

For St. Lawrence, Kyle Edwards and Kyle Kobis each scored nine points, as did Brady Condlin. Janpeter Brase came off the bench to record eight points and seven rebounds.

POTSDAM MEN FALL

Potsdam started strongly by shooting 51 percent from the floor in the first half and led 33-29 at the break, but a strong second half surge pushed Plattsburgh past Potsdam for a 76-61 win at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium.

The Bears held onto that lead until 13:16 left in the game on a Rishawd Hendricks free throw that put Potsdam up 38-37.

That would be the last time Potsdam would have the lead as Plattsburghs Ezra Hodgson knocked down a 3-pointer to begin a 16-3 run at about the midway point of the second half.

Free throws by Edward Correa and John Perez followed by a lay up, two 3-pointers and a jumper from Hodgson pushed the Cardinals lead to 12 with 8:55 left.

Potsdam (4-19, 2-14 SUNYAC) rallied earlier in the first half when it trailed 23-12 with 8:43 left.

The Bears answered with a 16-4 run to take a 28-27 lead on a Graf lay up. Williams converted a 3-point play on a lay up and free throw, a Rishawd Hendricks jumper, a Colin Peterson jumper, a Hendricks 3-pointer and a lay up by Adams.

The Bears were able to get to the free throw line for nine more attempts, but converted just 12-of-24 from the charity stripe. The Cardinals (19-4, 13-3 SUNYAC) made 12-of-15 from the line.

Plattsburgh was also aided by a plus 15 advantage on the boards.

Potsdam will be back in action to face Buffalo State on Friday at 8 p.m.

Ezra Hodgson tallied 18 points to send SUNY Plattsburgh (19-4, 13-3) past the Bears in a SUNYAC game in Potsdam.

Edward Correa and Shavar Fields each scored 11 points for the Cardinals.